[Dysphagia] Wt loss in Alzheimers

[v.cooper at sbcglobal.net (v.cooper)]

Can anyone help me w/references which explain why the person w/adv alzheimers loses wt altho they eat what appears to be enough? I have a rt in a nursing home who is 94 yo, weighs 74 lbs...gaining or losing a couple of lbs a week. She has hx multiple cva, adv alzh, cardiac problems. She is nonamb so is not walking off calories. We had a meeting yesterday w/the ombudsman and they want to put in a tube. But she eats 80-100% of a fortified diet (pureed--has dysphagia) plus supplements. I couldnt eat that much food!!! The medical director wants specifics on the process that causes this wt loss. He says that a tube will put on wt but I havent found that to be the case.

Any help appreciated.